The worst fears of the family of Sierra Shields — an Astoria flight attendant who disappeared in January — were confirmed on Friday.
Police announced on Sept. 16 that the human remains that had washed up on the western shore of Rikers Island on Wednesday were those of Shields, a 30-year-old resident of 35th Street who was last seen alive at LaGuardia Airport on Jan. 14.
For the past eight months, the Shields family and members of Astoria’s Connection Church, which she attended, have been desperately searching for the young woman; two Facebook pages were launched as part of the effort to find her.
Shields’ father, Chris, told CBS New York in January that Sierra Shields had quit her job at Shuttle America the day before she disappeared and seemed “distressed” when she informed her parents of her resignation.
After her disappearance, Shields’ parents found her phone and wallet in their home.
A cause of death has yet to be determined by the Medical Examiner’s office.
